The Hairworm Is The Biggest NOPE Known To Man — It’s Worse Than Snakes And Spiders

Nature has plenty of creepy-crawly awfulness to offer. If you’ve read a few of the articles on this site lately, you’re probably very familiar with how terrifying this planet (and all of the creatures living on it) can be.

Well, allow me to take that to a whole new level for you. I’d like to introduce you to my good friend, the hairworm.

The hairworm is a nasty little parasite that infects grasshoppers. The larvae develop inside their buggy hosts, and once they reach maturity, they seize control of the insects’ brains and force them to jump into bodies of water.

Water is the only place where hairworms can breed. Once there, the grasshoppers drown and the hairworms wriggle their way out. The microscopic larvae are then unknowingly ingested by new hosts and the cycle begins again.

While that sounds horrible, reading about it doesn’t even come close to seeing it in action. In the video below, this guy decides to demonstrate just how many hairworms can develop inside one cricket before they force the creature to seek water. It’s so gross.

I think I’m going to be sick. While it’s possible for humans to contract hairworms, they’re not really harmful to adults. That being said, if you think your body might be crawling with these things, you should probably see a doctor.